Football dummy



p -15,1959 J.R.ANN|NG v2,904,337-

F'OOTBALL DUMMY Filed 001;. so, '1957 James R Canning INVENTOR.

United States Patent FOOTBALL DUMMY James R. Canning, Burgettstown, Pa.

Application October 30, 1957, Serial No. 693,411

1 Claim. (Cl. 273-55) My invention relates to improvements in football dummies for use by football players in practicing blocking and tackling.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a football dummy which is better adapted than football dummies of commerce to withstand the rough usage to which such dummies are subjected and which involves merely a core and an easily replaceable cover both of which are of simple, inexpensive, durable construction and whereby the dummy is less expensive to manufacture and replace than those now in use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved dummy in the preferred embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in cross-section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a view in perspective with the cover partly removed from the core.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, the dummy of my invention comprises a vertically elongated molded core 1 of foam rubber, or the like, and which is of round cross-section with a flat top 3 and a flat bottom 5 and :flares downwardly from its top to its bottom so that it will stand alone and not be easily upset.

A cover 7 is formed preferably of heavy canvas and completely and conformably encases the core 1 and which is provided with a bottom cup-shaped boot section 9 which is of waterproof canvas and whereby the lower end portion of the cover 7 is of double thickness and thus reinforced to better withstand contact therewith by the feet of a player, and whereby the lower end portion of the cover 1 is moisture and waterproof for durability.

The cover 7 is split upwardly from the boot section 9 along one side and also radially of the top 5 of the core 1 and Provided with a Z pper slide fastener 13 closing the split.

A pair of elongated handles 15 of plastic are provided on the cover 7 at the upper portion of the cover to extend longitudinally of the dummy at opposite sides of the slide fastener 13. A pair of reinforcing straps 17, 19 on the outside and inside of the cover 7, respectively, are stitched to said cover 7 as at 21 behind each handle. Rivets 23 in the ends of the handles 15 secure the handles in place and additionally secure the straps 17, 19 in place. The outside straps 17 are of suitable material to form pads to prevent skinning of the knuckles of hands grasping the handles 15.

As will be manifest, the described dummy may be used in tackling and blocking practice by one player while the dummy is held upright by a coach or other player grasping the handles 15, or, the dummy may be used in standing position without being held upright. When replacement of the cover 7 becomes necessary, it may be easily opened by means of the slide fastener 13 and peeled longitudinally off the core 1 toward the lower end thereof, as shown in Figure 4, and then olf said end and replaced by a new cover all in the manner which will be clear without further explanation.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be restored to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A football dummy comprising an elongated solid core of molded resilient material and generally frusto-conical in shape and having flat end parallel surfaces, a fabric cover completely enclosing said core, said cover having an elongated slit in the peripheral wall and extending radially of the top end wall, a slide closure means for closing said slit to enable removal of the cover, a generally cup-shaped reinforcing boot attached to the lower enlarged end of the cover, said boot being constructed of waterproof material for protecting and reinforcing the lower end of the core and cover, a pair of elongated rigid U-shaped handles attached to the cover adjacent the upper smaller end with the handles disposed adjacent the slit whereby the smooth area of the dummy opposite to the slide closure means will be disposed for contact by a player when the dummy is supported by grasping the handles, reinforcing straps underlying and overlying the cover only throughout the area occupied by the handles, the outer reinforcing straps forming pads for preventing damage to the knuckles of the hands grasping the handles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wynn Feb. 19, 1952 Maxcey et al. Oct. 23, 1956 

